The great state of Tex-afornia

I smell the next trend in adult ministry at the church. :-).

Cuddle Parties

posted by Kevin @ 9:36 AM 0 Comments

Thanksgiving and Such

We had a great thankgiving with the Fam-in-Law. I caught 2 delicious bass and ate a ton of stuffing. I got it in me to wake up really early on Friday to hit the crowds at Best Buy. I did get a good deal on a computer for our youth groups sound room, but it was amazing how crowded it was. I ended up waiting about an hour and 45 minutes just to check out. I don't think I will ever do it again, props to all you ladies who brave the stores every year. What was amazing to me was the number of people who got to the store that early just to save a few bucks on DVDs. Totally not worth it. I realize more than ever how much we are a slave to "stuff". We, as a nation, have a ton of stuff already, yet can't seem to resist getting more stuff and getting a deal for it. The whole experience reminded me of a line from a book/play "We keep buying new things because they make us feel new and reborn, yet we quickly realize that it never lasts." Just promise me that you won't buy into that lie during this holiday shop-a-holiday. Chances are I probably already have (sadly).

posted by Kevin @ 10:19 AM 0 Comments

YS Update
(disclaimer: excuse all spelling because of this stupid laptop).

So here it is, saurday night. What are my thoughts? Well, I have only been to one breakout session because there haven't been a ton for me to be curious about. For the most part, our main sessions have been awesome. I cried this morning because of the beauty of Christ. We were singing "Wonderful Cross" a la Crowder and there was this dude who was doing a clay sculpture of Christ. It was amazing to say the least. While not attending semnars, I have spent a good bit of time in the prayer chapel. I have found refreshment in my soul and challenge to be more creative and earnest in my seeking of God.

On a side note I have met two minor youth ministry celebrities (Tony Jones and Wayne Rice) and conversations were lame to be honest, not due to these people, but because of me. I just don't have the mingling ability to connect with people in a split second kind of way. It's mostly a ," Big Gulps huh? Well, see ya later." It makes me glad to see that shmoozing is not my thing. To be honest, it makes me realize that (ministry) fame will probably never come my way. Oh, well. Pride working itself back in my life.

PS. When Crowder was playing, sung extra loud for you Mark A. :-)

posted by Kevin @ 8:53 PM 0 Comments

NYWC
So, I head to Nashville tomorrow for the National Youth Workers Convention. It is my third convention and my first time in Tennessee. I am excited about going because I love road trips, I get to hang out with my buddy Matt, and am looking forward to a time of refreshment. Youth Specialties usually does put on a great conference. They bring great worship leaders and have really creative ways of bringing many different limbs from the tree of Christ together. Hopefully, I will be able to update while I am there, so check back often. Have a great weekend!

posted by Kevin @ 4:49 PM 0 Comments

As Kingfishers Catch Fire

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves -- goes itself; _myself_ it speaks and spells,
Crying _What I do is me: for that I came_.

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is --
Christ.
For Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.

I saw this poem in a book I'm reading by Eugene Peterson. So far the idea of worship as Christ "playing" is an interesting thought to me. We worship in our lives and in our lives become one of "ten thousand places" where Christ plays. It seems much more joyful and intimate than simply us giving God what is due to Him. I'll let you know other thoughts as they pan out.

posted by Kevin @ 1:50 PM 0 Comments

Pigeons and Handlebar Mustaches
My parents are in town (got in at 1:00AM last night). I figured I'd take the time to give an 'Ode to my dad. So here goes:

For a man whose vocabulary is as unintelligible as a charismatic healing prayer service (see further "Wandangle" and "MotherFlutcher"), my dad can explain the most complicated technical machine in terms that even I can understand. His fits of steadfast opinionated-ness are covered by a consistent and dedicated self-sacrifice for his wife and children. This ailing superhero cares for a child like no other, with patience and joy. His eyes light up when I call him and his smile beams at the sight of his grandchildren. He is a man so steadfast that he worked for a single company most of his working career. My father once worked as a milkman, plumber, hitchiker, minor league ball player, sponsored surfer and little league coach (my favorite of his professions). My dad owns the same pair of shorts he had when the first Bush was President, has had a perm, and claims he was wearing Hawaiian shirts before I was born. Though his standard fare is a TCU hat, flip flops, and a bare chest. Ken Libick has a green thumb the size of Rhode Island and can tell you the genetic lineage of his pigeons dating back to the dawn of the Common Era. He has a taste for fish, tomatoes, fine mustards, and bargain bakery day old bread. Though it may involve a little grumbling Ken never denies his children the necessities in life. This man reads like it is in style. He consistently asks me about areas of the Christian heritage that I've never even heard about. He could tell you about giants of the bygone Golden Age of Baseball, and has no tolerance for cheaters and arrogance. He likes Jazz, country, rock and roll, and talk radio. His favorite beverage is fresh diner coffee. His greatest "weakness" is that he believes in me. He is able to leap tall ideas with a single bound. He is a great many things, with a great many abilities. What I love most is that he is my dad and I love him for making me the man I am today.

posted by Kevin @ 10:12 AM 0 Comments

F-Bomb
The past few Sundays we have been talking about addictions in our Sunday morning meeting. Yesterday, we were talking about cutting and we used the song "Last Resort" by Papa Roach. It's a powerful song about the darkness someone feels that drives them to cut themselves. I had gone through and edited the 'questionable' words from the song so it would be 'safe' to play for our group. We started listening to the song, but instead of muting the expletive it was loud and clear. Amid 'ghasts' and 'ooohs' we stopped the song. After a little debate, I decided to continue playing the song while manually muting it when F--- (the mother of all curse words) appeared.

I alerted the authorities (elders and pastor) who were quite cool about it. It is a funny story though and I am quite embarassed about the situation. I do wonder however how many students caught only the controversy of a single curse word uttered in church, while missing the message of the pain of someone who cuts themselves. So, for now I have narrowly escaped losing my job...For Now.

posted by Kevin @ 4:06 PM 0 Comments